Surviving as the Wife of the Swordsmanship Clan’s Troublemaker - Chapter 113

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 113

Candlelight flickered to life in the Drawing Room.
On a night draped in darkness, Francesca found Eva, unable to sleep.
Eva remained silent for a while, simply holding her teacup in her hands.
Francesca was the first to speak.
“You’ve had a difficult day, haven’t you?”
Eva gave a small laugh and shook her head.
“It’s something that happens all the time.”
“Still.”
Eva set down her teacup.
“Lady Bloodmere.”
“Yes?”
“May I speak frankly?”
“Of course.”
Eva gazed out the window for a moment, hesitating before she spoke.
“I know Elise hates me.”
Francesca said nothing.
“It’s only natural. I’m not her real mother, but her stepmother. And there’s barely an age difference between us. Still, I’m grateful that Elise calls me stepmother at all.”
It had been exactly three years since the Duchess of Cardia died in an accident and Eva became the Duchess. She fulfilled her duties as Duchess to the best of her ability.
Yet caring for Elise, her newly acquired grown daughter, remained beyond her control.
She fidgeted with the handle of her teacup.
“When the Duke asked me to take good care of Elise, I thought I could do it well. Caring for younger siblings and nieces and nephews was my happiness. But.”
Eva lowered her head and pressed her palm to her forehead.
“A daughter is different. Becoming a parent is an entirely different matter. I don’t know how to approach her. I don’t know what to do for her. Whenever I try to do something, Elise resists. Because I don’t want to fight with Elise, I end up neglecting her more and more. Aren’t I terrible?”
“Eva… may I call you Eva?”
“Of course.”
Eva smiled faintly.
Then Francesca cleared away the teacup and brought out a wine glass, pouring a special wine that only came from Bloodmere.
“You’re not the only one. Even I, who gave birth to three children, still find parenthood difficult.”
“Really? You as well?”
“Call me Francesca.”
“Yes, Francesca.”
“It feels nice to have someone call me by my name again after so long—like meeting an old friend.”
Clink.
The wine glasses touched.
“I’m only now beginning to understand what parenthood truly means. And all three of my sons are adults.”
“You’re trying to comfort me. I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Would you believe me if I told you I argued with my eldest son and his wife just days ago?”
“Really? With the Viscount?”
Francesca let out a hollow laugh.
“Yes. That Viscount of all people was shouting his lungs out, saying he only cares for his younger sister.”
“Really? That dependable Viscount who seems afraid of nothing in this world?”
At Eva’s words of disbelief, Francesca drained her wine glass.
“I thought the same thing. The eldest son was independent and reliable from childhood, so I believed he didn’t need me to look after him constantly. But inside, he was rotting away.”
Nikolai even envied how I would scold Docheop and forcibly drag him to the Training Grounds.
“Good heavens.”
“Still, he’s a good boy. Recently, he bought a gift for the first time and apologized to me.”
After Docheop and Hallara left for their honeymoon, Nikolai came himself to apologize for that day.
“This is just between us, but… he buried his face in my lap and cried his heart out.”
It was the first time I’d seen Nikolai cry with tears and snot streaming down his face since birth. He was a son who seemed like not a drop of blood would spill even if you pricked him.
“I’m the one who made my grown son cry, so what’s wrong with you, Eva? The fact that you’re having these worries at all means you’re a good mother.”
Francesca took Eva’s hand. Just by the fact that she hadn’t given up until now, I could tell how much Eva had struggled for Elise.
“Have you ever had a serious conversation with the young lady? About what she wants to do or how she wants to live?”
“…No. We don’t even have normal conversations. It’s all my fault.”
Eva’s eyes filled with tears of guilt. The problem was not knowing Elise’s true feelings.
“Hmm, I noticed earlier that the young lady seems to like food.”
“That’s right. Elise seems to love food. The only time I see Elise smile is when we eat together. Though of course, only when something truly delicious is served.”
The Cardia Duchy values honor above all among the Hero Families. Bloodmere, which wields power, and Bresbon in the Northern Empire don’t restrict food, but Cardia is different.
Not acting individually and always moving together is also a form of surveillance to prepare for any situation that might arise. Especially since Elise is such a spirited child, Duncan always keeps her close.
“Then Eva, would you ask our daughter-in-law for a favor?”
“The daughter-in-law who served us food today?”
“Yes. Actually, I’ve only recently started talking properly with my second son, and it’s all thanks to my daughter-in-law.”
“Really? Truly?”
Eva showed interest, understanding that it wasn’t simply about asking Hallara because of her cooking.
“Yes. That girl has something that opens people’s hearts.”
Francesca smiled with certainty. She had captured the hearts of Nikolai, Docheop, Helbeorn, and even her cousin Ludvin. Hallara would surely open Elise’s heart as well.
***
“Pretty.”
Elise burst out of the Kitchen. Just as she had that dawn, she opened the Warehouse door as casually as if it were her own room and stepped through.
“Young Lady?”
I feigned surprise and covered my mouth, though I’d known Elise would appear.
According to May’s intelligence, a Soldier from the Cardia Duke House stood guard outside the guest room in the Main Building where Elise was staying.
Duncan likely had her confined there. In the original story, she’d spent half her weeks fighting with him and receiving punishment, after all.
‘She must have used magic to escape.’
Her appearance in the Kitchen that dawn had probably involved her signature teleportation spell.
It was fortunate I’d sent Hotsen and the Maids home early with this in mind.
“Huff. Huff. What is this?”
She drooled like a ravenous beast.
“You didn’t eat properly earlier, Young Lady. And I heard you barely ate at dinner. I was preparing a snack for you.”
Though “barely ate” really meant “barely could eat.”
“What? You were making this for me?”
“Yes.”
“Really? You really were?”
“I told you so. You arrived at just the right moment. Eat first, then we’ll talk. Here—this is all for you.”
“All of it? Not just one piece?”
“Would one piece fill you? After how many bowls of rice you devoured yesterday…”
“Ugh! You’re absolutely the best, Pretty.”
Elise suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. Her grip was so strong I coughed. I gently extracted myself and offered her the three-tiered cake I’d prepared.
“It’s a strawberry cake. Do you like it?”
“What? It wasn’t just a regular cake?”
Elise’s eyes widened like saucers at the pristine white cake before her. A natural reaction. I knew her preferences better than anyone.
“Yes. Try cutting into it. There should be strawberries inside.”
With that, I handed her the large spoon I’d prepared.
“You want me to eat it with a spoon?”
“Isn’t cake meant to be savored when eaten with a spoon?”
Elise’s eyes gleamed. She snatched the spoon from my hand.
“You’re a genius.”
​
Five minutes later.
Elise had devoured the entire cake and patted her belly contentedly.
Pat, pat, pat.
Exclamations burst forth with her applause.
‘Perhaps Elise should have been a strength-type rather than a mage.’
It seemed her power grew proportional to her consumption. It was a waste to have such impressive physicality confined to magic.
“Where does it all go?”
“Who knows. My hair? My hair grows incredibly fast.”
Her green hair—identical to Duncan’s—gleamed with vitality.
It does seem like she’s grown a bit compared to earlier.
“Pretty one.”
“Could you call me ‘Hallara’ instead of ‘Pretty one’?”
“Hmm, ‘Pretty one’ suits you so well. But since your name is lovely, I’ll use it. Hallara. Sure, sure.”
Elise laughed heartily, her mood clearly delightful. Now it was my turn to speak.
“Lady Elise.”
“Hallara.”
But before I could even open my mouth, Elise suddenly threw her arms around me.
“Help me out a bit.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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